Frictional counterbalance



June 19, 1934. @5155 1,963,199

FRICTIONAL COUNTERBALANCE Filed Feb. 15, 1932 ==i:i\i:i:i:r 14 E a m in mam/ gwumtw Geog: E d ward ellse Patented June 19, 1.934

PATENT OFFICE FRICTIONAL COUNTERBALANCE George Edward Geise, South Fort Mitchell, K-y., assigncr to The Kelley-Kocth Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a. corporation Ohio Application February 15, 1932, Serial No. 593,105"

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements .in an adjustable frictional counter-balance and is especially adapted to the provision of a universal adjustable fluoroscopic screen whereby the screen may be moved and tilted to any and all positions with a minimum of effort, there to remain positively fixed until again adjusted by the operator.

Other objects will be apparent from the hereinafter following specification and the appended drawing forming a part thereof.

,Inthe drawing Fig. 1 represents a fragmental side elevational view of an X-ray tilting table provided with a fluoroscopic screen universally balanced to any adjustment by the device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a pin mounting forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Heretofore some difficulty has been experienced in the retention of fluoroscopic screens in adjusted positions without the use of somewhat 7 cumbersome counter-balance weights and the like.

In the present device counter-weights have been completely eliminated and the entire counterbalance or universal positioning means has been reduced to a very small and compact structure which has an added advantage over prior construction in that the device may be either entirely disabled or adjusted to a screen and supporting structure of any given weight and made to operate with the desired freedom or stiffness by the mere turning of an adjustment knob. Referring now to the drawing 7 represents a fragment of a supporting pedestal and 8 represents a table which may be tiltably supported thereby. A bracket structure comprising arms 9-9 is carried by the table and is normally adjusted longitudinally thereof at one side by the mechanism which carries the X-ray generator (not shown). At the top of the arms 9 is provided a cuplike hub 10 having a bore 11 therethrough and at the opposite side thereof communicating with a counter-bore l2. Disposed in edge to edge abutment with the hub 10 is a cap 13 which is arranged, by means hereinafter described, to be rotatable through approximately 120 relative to hub 10. Cap 13 has a threaded central boss 14 which receives the threaded end 15 of a stud 16 which also passes through bore 11 and counter-bore 12 and projects beyond latter. Seated within cap 13 is a cylindrical sleeve 17 having an inwardly projecting pin or lug 18 to which is secured one end of a coiled spring '19, Spring 19 fits snugly in the interiorbore of-sl'eeve .17 and projects therefrom into the hollow'interior of hub 10 and has-an end 20 seated in a bore 21 in the hub. A groove 22 extendingpart way 6 about the periphery of hub L0 receives a pin-'23 which is fixed in the edge of cap 13 and provides limits of relative rotation of the hub-.and cap. The sleeve 17 has a depress-ion 24 in which spring- .pressed pin 25 seats to normally preclude rotation of the. sleeve 1'7 in cap ;13. This is removably mounted in the cap 13 by means-of a stem 26 with apiece 27 thereon, therstem extending through a threadedcouple 28 which is screwed into-, the cap 13. Spring 29 normally presses the pin 25 against the'sleeve and causes the pinto drop into the depression 24. In the counter-bore 12 and encircling the stud 16 is a spring 30. The stud 16 has a longitudinal slot 31 adjacent its outer thread end and a washer 32 provided with a lug 320 extending into groove 31 is seated over the end of the stud against the end of the spring 30. An adjusting knob 33 has a threaded bore 34 to receive the threaded end 35 of stud 16. It will be apparent that upon winding of the adjusting S0 knob 33 on to stud 16 the cap 13 will be drawn against the face of hub 10 and spring 30 will be placed under compression to retain it under frictional engagement therewith. Extending radially from one side of the cup 13 is a hollow tubular member 36 which houses a simple screw-adjusted spring friction means for holding the bar 38 in adjusted positions about a pivot 37 on the axis of member 36. Bar 38 carries a pair of uniform arms 39 which has a simple frictional pivotal connection at 40 with the frame 41 which carries the fluoroscopic screen. One or more handles 42 provide a suitable gripping means for the operator to use in shifting the frame 41 to the desired angle and elevation.

When in use the screen frame 41 and its supporting elements would normally overhang the table 8. If the operator desires to move the screen completely out of the field of its utility relative to the table he would pull out the piece 2'7 against .100 resistance of spring 29 sufliciently to disengage pin 25 from depression 24 whereupon the entire screen and its support including cap 13 could be tilted backwardly without any counter-balance whatsoever.

If now the operator should again desire to bring the screen into use he would merely pull it forwardly and upwardly by the handles 42 and the pin 25 would ride on the outer periphery of sleeve 1'7 until it dropped into the depression 24 110 therein. Sleeve 17 and cap 13 would then be secured together as a unit and further movement of the screen and its support would begin to effect a limited Winding or tightening of spring 19. The knob 33 however would have been previously screwed onto stud 16 sufliciently to effect a frictional binding between the faces of the hub and the cap so that the tendency of the partially wound spring 19 would. be overcome by the friction of the hub and the cap and resists any tendency to again move the screen and its support.

It will be appreciated that it requires but a moments effort to turn knob 33 to increase or decrease the frictional engagement of the parts and that the con-joint effect of the spring 19 and the friction due to compression of spring may be regulated so that the screen and its support may be very easily and freely pushed about with the mere touch of the finger and that the device will always remain in the adjusted position.

What is claimed is: 1. In a device of the class described the combination of an arm having at its end a transverse bore at one side of which is a counter-bore, a

hollow hub at the opposite side of said arm concentric with the bore, a cap disposed in edge to edge relation with the hub, a stud secured to the cap and extending through the hub, bore and counter-bore, a compression spring in the counter-bore, an adjusting knob on the stud for compressing the spring in the counter-bore and serving to frictionally bind the cap against the hub,

a sleeve rotatable in the cap, a removable means to retain the sleeve against rotation relative to the cap, a coiled spring secured at its one end to the interior of the sleeve and at its other end to the hub and means disposed radially of the cap for receiving an object to be supported.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a supporting arm having at its end a transverse bore and at each of its opposite sides a counter-bore concentric with said transverse bore, a hub surrounding one of said counterbores, a stud in the bore, a compression spring in the counter-bore surrounding the stud, a cap secured to/the opposite end of the stud and adapted to be frictionally bound against the hub under the action of a compression spring, and a Winding spring secured at its one end interiorly of the hub and at its opposite end interiorly of the cap and means whereby the connection between the last mentioned spring and cap may be severed.

3. In a counter-balance device, the combination of a hub, a cap rotatable thereon, a sleeve in the cap, a cylindrical winding spring having its opposite ends connected respectively to the hub and the sleeve, means frictionally binding the cap to the hub and exteriorly operable means selectively connecting and disconnecting the cap and the sleeve.

4. In a counter-balance the combination of a I00 hub member, a cap member rotatable thereon, means limiting the relative rotation of the cap and the hub, a sleeve in the cap, a cylindrical winding spring connected at its opposite ends v respectively to the hub and the sleeve, exteriorly 105 operable means selectively connecting and disconnecting the cap and the sleeve and means frictionally binding the cap to the hub toresist a force of the winding spring tending to rotate the cap on the hub. 110

GEORGE EDWARD GEISE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,963,199. June 19, 1934.

GEORGE EDWARD GEISE.

that thename of the assignee in the above numbered ;patent was erroae-usiy written and printed as "The'Keliy-Koeth Manufacturing Company" whereas said name should have been written and printed as The Kelly- ?Koett Manufacturing Company, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction It is hereby therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of September, A. D. 1934.

Leslie Frazer (.5 1) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,963,199. June 19, 1934.

GEORGE EDWARD GEISE.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously written and printed as "The Kelley-Koeth Manufacturing Gompany" whereas said name should have been Written and printed as The Kelley- Koett Manufacturing Company, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

This Certificate supersedes Certificate of Correetien issued September 11, 1934.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of October, A. D. 1934.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

